Separated by conscionable 3 points successful the precocious echelons of the Premier League table, Chelsea and Bournemouth endeavour to physique connected emphatic FA Cup victories successful Tuesday's top-flight conflict astatine Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca's men hit Morecambe for 5 without reply connected Saturday, portion the Cherries besides strolled into the 4th circular courtesy of a 5-1 demolition of West Bromwich Albion.
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© IconSport
As has truthful often been the lawsuit successful this season's Conference League, Maresca's 2nd Chelsea XI enjoyed a mostly stress-free day connected Saturday, erstwhile Morecambe rocked up to their West London location and near connected the receiving extremity of a 5-0 slaughter.
Long-range goals were the bid of the time astatine Stamford Bridge, arsenic Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Felix some struck braces alongside a customary cupful onslaught from Christopher Nkunku, who had earlier fixed the visiting assemblage their item of the time erstwhile his punishment was saved by Harry Burgoyne.
That missed spot footwear was a insignificant dose of disappointment for Chelsea, but Maresca's men person experienced a fistful of large setbacks successful the apical formation of late, possibly proving their manager close erstwhile helium said that the Blues were not genuine rubric contenders.
Indeed, Chelsea person lone accrued 2 points from a imaginable 12 successful their past 4 top-flight games, astir precocious having to settee for a 1-1 gully astatine London rivals Crystal Palace, leaving them 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool having played a crippled much than the Reds.
All of Newcastle United, Manchester City and upcoming opponents Bournemouth could present leapfrog the Blues with satisfactory results successful the midweek circular of matches, wherever the hosts could endure back-to-back Premier League losses astatine Stamford Bridge for the archetypal clip since September 2023.
© Imago
Also putting 5 goals past lower-league absorption astatine the weekend, Bournemouth had to bash it the hard mode against West Brom pursuing Caleb Taylor's opener for the Baggies, but the Cherries rapidly went connected the warpath to widen their astonishing unbeaten sequence.
Dango Ouattara ended the time with 2 goals to his name, portion Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and Daniel Jebbison besides contributed to the third-round trouncing astatine the Vitality Stadium, 1 that marked Bournemouth's ninth crippled connected the bounce without defeat.
Andoni Iraola's harvest were not successful specified blistery goalscoring signifier during the sojourn of Everton connected January 4, but a solitary onslaught from David Brooks - and an exquisite 1 astatine that - was capable to heighten the Cherries' European credentials and consolidate their top-seven ranking successful the Premier League table.
Since past falling to decision against Brighton & Hove Albion successful precocious November, Bournemouth person made nine past with an eight-game unbeaten streak successful the Premier League, and lone the apical 2 - Liverpool (15) and Arsenal (10) - are presently connected longer sequences without a loss.
A blistery streak connected the roadworthy has proved pivotal to the Cherries' continental propulsion - the visitors person scored aggregate goals successful each of their past 5 Premier League distant games - but they are winless successful six against Chelsea pursuing September's Nkunku-inflicted 1-0 location defeat.
Chelsea Premier League form:
Chelsea signifier (all competitions):
Bournemouth Premier League form:
Bournemouth signifier (all competitions):
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© Imago
Aside from known absentees Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended), Omari Kellyman (hamstring) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (unspecified), the lone caller interest for Chelsea astatine the play was Noni Madueke, who missed the Morecambe mauling owed to illness.
The winger faces a contention against clip to beryllium his fittingness for Tuesday's game, wherever Maresca volition revert to his 'A' squad with nary less than 10 changes; Pedro Neto whitethorn beryllium the lone starter from Saturday to clasp his place.
Adarabioyo surely has a lawsuit to reprise his relation successful defence too, but teenage starlet Josh Acheampong - brought backmost successful from the acold aft committing to a caller declaration - has rapidly won implicit Maresca and should instrumentality to the archetypal XI.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth deed West Brom for 5 contempt losing some Enes Unal (knee) and Evanilson (foot) to semipermanent injuries earlier this month; the Cherries are expected to bring successful a caller striker this period contempt recalling Jebbison from his Watford loan.
The 21-year-old has made his lawsuit to commencement astatine Stamford Bridge with his onslaught astatine the weekend, but either Ouattara oregon Semenyo should spearhead the violative enactment this weekend, arsenic 20-year-old Ben Winterburn cedes his place.
Marcos Senesi (thigh), Julian Araujo (thigh), Alex Scott (knee), Marcus Tavernier (thigh), Luis Sinisterra (thigh) and Adam Smith (unspecified) stay successful the infirmary arsenic well, and the latter's understudy Max Aarons is believed to beryllium connected the verge of joining Valencia, though helium inactive completed 1 fractional of the West Brom win.
Chelsea imaginable starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Bournemouth imaginable starting lineup:
Travers; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Ouattara; Semenyo
We say: Chelsea 3-1 Bournemouth
The dice should not beryllium formed aboriginal connected astatine Stamford Bridge, arsenic Bournemouth person scored 10 goals via substitutes successful the 2024-25 Premier League season, much than immoderate different broadside successful the apical flight.
However, the Cherries caput to West London with depleted options successful some onslaught and defence, and Chelsea's refreshed first-choice XI should bring the Cherries' magical unbeaten tally to an extremity portion simultaneously ending their worrying winless sequence.
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